Oar



Patented Mar. 7, 1944- OAR Milton '1'. Witt, Bufialo, Ni. Y.

Application May 14, 1941, Serial No. 393,449

2 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in oars for boats, the principal object in view being to provide a sectional r device of this character adapted for adjustment of the sections when not in use to decrease to a minimum the overall length of the device for convenient carrying or storage in a small space and without complicating the structure or weakening the same.

Another object is to provide a device of the character and for the purpose above set forth which is light in weight, safe to use, and economical to manufacture.

Other and subordinate objects are also comprehended by my invention, all of which, together with the precise nature of my improvements, will be readily understood when the succeeding description and claims are read with reference to the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification.

In said drawing- Figure 1 is a View in elevation of a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 and drawn to:a.n enlarged scale.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a similar view taken through the shank sections.

Figure 5 is a view in transverse section taken on the-line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a view in transverse section of the blade structure with the sections partially folded.

Reference being had to the drawing by numerals, in its preferred embodiment my invention comprises a tubular shank, or stem, I of light, strong metal, such as aluminum, and which comprises a pair of male and female sections 2, 3, the former slid-ably fitting in the latter whereby said sections may be telescopically adjusted to contract or extend the overall length of the shank. The female section 3 is provided with a reduced butt end 4 forming a hand grip and a pair of diametrically opposite pins 5 for use in the usual oar lock, not shown. The sections 2 and 3 are crimped to provide a. longitudinally extending groove 6 in the male section and-a similarly extending tongue 1 in the female section fitting in said groove and forming therewith a spline connection between said sections.

The male section is provided therein adjacent its inner end with a pair of latches comprising a pair of diametrically opposite leaf springs 8 extending along the inner side of said section and riveted at one end, as at 9, thereto. A pair of keeper studs III are fixed on the opposite ends of said springs and which extend outwardly through apertures II in the section 2 to snap under the urge of the springs 8 into a pair of apertures I2 in the female section 3 adjacent the outer end of the latter, the described latches providing for releasably securing the sections 2, 3 together in the fully extended condition of the shank. As will be manifest, the described latches may be operated to releasing position by merely forcing, with a suitable tool, the keeper studs I0 inwardly out of the apertures I2. When the latches are so released, the sections 2, 3 may be telescoped together to reduce the overall length of the shank by substantial-1y one-half, said sections being substantially of equal length.

The oar blade I3 comprises a plurality, four being shown as illustrative, of fiat, preferably metal strip sections I 4 suitably hinged together, as at I5, to be unfolded into edge to edge relation to form the blade, or folded oppositely into side by side relation, as indicated in Figure 6, to form a stack of blade sections fitting into the male section 2.

A pair of keepers I6 are provided adjacent opposite ends of the blade l3 to retain the sections I4 in unfolded blade-forming positions, said keepers I6 comprising a pair of rods pivoted, as at I1, midway of their ends to one section I4 to be swung crosswise of the sections into retaining position, or lengthwise of the section I4 upon which they are pivoted into idle positions. Suitable stops I6' are provided on the blade I3 to establish the retaining position of said rods.

A pair of blade sections I4 are extended, as at I8, at the inner end of the blade l3, beyond the other sections M, to fit, when unfolded into the outer end of the male shank section 2. A pair of spring pressed latches I9 is provided on edges of the extensions I8 similar to the previously described latches to snap into diametrically opposite apertures I9 in the male section 2 in the outer end portion of said section. As will be seen by releasing the latches I9, for instance as set forth with reference to latches 8, I2, the blade I3 may be easily removed from section 2 folded and stored in said section.

The foregoing will, it is believed, suflice to impart a clear understanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification without departing from the inventive concept, in other respects and as herein set forth, and right is herein reserved to such other modifications as fall within the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. An oar comprising a shank including a pair of tubular sections telescopically arranged for sliding adjustment of one shank section inwardly of the other, and a blade comprising sections hinged together for folding oppositely into flat engaging relation side by side and forming a. stack when folded of less thickness and width than the internal diameter of said one shank section for sliding into one end of said one section. 2. An oar comprising a shank including a pair of tubular sections telescopically arranged for sliding adjustment of one shank section inwardly and outwardly of the other, snap action means for locking said sections together in the outwardly adjusted position of said one shank section, a blade detachably secured to said one shank section and comprising sections hinged together for folding oppositely into fiat engaging relation side by side, a contiguous pair of the blade sections being longer than the other blade sections and providing a fiat extension on said blade when said blade sections are unfolded fitting in said one shank section to attach the blade to said shank.

MILTON T. WI'I'I. 

